View Full Version : A Playpen - is this something you use in your home?
sydneybubhub
10-02-2011, 17:26
This may sound like an odd question but I'm keen to find out simply do you or have you used a playpen to put your children in at home?
Great to 'contain' little wanderers (and all their toys), playpens can also be good to put around things to keep the kids out (such as putting around the ironing board so if the iron falls, your precious little one doesn't get injured!).
What did/do you use your playpen for, and did/do you find it successful? How long was/is your child happy to be there?
If you didn't use one - or don't want to - why not?
MrsTiggyWinkle
10-02-2011, 17:28
i have one but i use it to fence off the tv, its never been used as a playpen, just a barrier.
Myztiks#1Fan
10-02-2011, 17:29
have never used one and never owned one either
SuPeRsTaRrR
10-02-2011, 17:31
Nope ds is too little at the moment but I can't see me using one at any stage either!
SorenLorensen
10-02-2011, 17:32
I had one for a while, i put it around the Christmas tree and also did the ironing in it (as did my mum with us).
Dont have it anymore though.
Thermolicious
10-02-2011, 18:03
Nope, never had one.
Hokey Pokey
10-02-2011, 18:04
Never had one either.
SammiAnn
10-02-2011, 18:10
:wave:,
We've had one since our first was born but it's never been used as a playpen! It's been a fireplace surround, a Christmas tree barrier and is currently a catfood and litter tray surround in the laundry.
HTH.
Sam :)
i have never used one, I haven't felt a need to.
shockinamillion
10-02-2011, 18:30
Yep, we have 2 big ones that have been used as cots (with mattress foam cut to shape), playpens, barriers and door gates.
bubbleandme
10-02-2011, 18:33
my pa made DS one, it's used as a 'fence' for my sewing table, works well!
just subscribing as i was wondering the same thing.
i bought a playpen 2 years ago, thinking i would need to put the christmas tree in it, but i did not even open it. I have been hanging onto it and thinking of selling it. but i am about to have my second child. has anyone used a playpen for a newborn to have some floor time without toddler poking them? or is that just a pointless thought?
TripleTime
10-02-2011, 18:40
We have one but it's used to fence 3 little people OUT things rather than fence them in.
Didn't buy till just before last Christmas.
TripleTime
10-02-2011, 18:42
just subscribing as i was wondering the same thing.
i bought a playpen 2 years ago, thinking i would need to put the christmas tree in it, but i did not even open it. I have been hanging onto it and thinking of selling it. but i am about to have my second child. has anyone used a playpen for a newborn to have some floor time without toddler poking them? or is that just a pointless thought?
Sheer bliss used one for her twins when they were newbies to give them some shave from over loving older siblings.
Boobycino
10-02-2011, 18:44
We used ours to put around the tv !!
tinkerbell87
10-02-2011, 18:46
I do and it's amazing, Ds 7 months is into everything and it's great for him to safely play I do let him crawl around to but he loves power chords so when I wanna do stuff I just put him In there and let him play.
Just*Ace
10-02-2011, 18:55
I have been looking for a cheap one on eBay as I don't know whether I will use it much. Either that or a safety gate, I don't know which to choose.
DaughteroftheForest
10-02-2011, 19:05
We don't have one, not because I have a problem with them I've just never seen one cheap enough, iykwim?
My friend used one to keep her cat's litter, food, etc and so the cat could have a space away from the crazy toddler. We have a saftey gate at the bottom of the stairwell so we keep kittens things in there. Kills two birds with one gate...or something like that...;)
*babygirl*
10-02-2011, 19:09
Yep :) I'm getting some foam cut for it so I can put bub in there for tummy time without worrying about cold tiles or over affectionate 4yo lol. Our house is so big and open that it's nice to just have a little space for bubba :)
We have had a playpen in the past :yes: We used it for DD untill she was almost 1, although she never actually spent much time in there that I can remember.
With DS we used it a few times when he was little but only if I needed to put him down and wanted to keep DD (who was 13/14/15 months old from getting to him but it was most commonly used for enclosing the Chrissy tree :D
We don't plan on getting another one for bub #3
BlissedOut
10-02-2011, 19:15
I have two!
A large plastic blue one with activity boards and a gate. Photo. (http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/154615_471386256747_558286747_5772601_5200456_n.jp g)
I find this is more of a play 'space' than a play pen as we don't shut the gate, it's just a place to put all DSs toys and for him to play off of the tiles.
I also have a wooden one which travels between the garage, the car, the bedroom etc... it's great for having DS in 'not-safe-for-baby' spots, such as the garage (while DH is working out or fixing stuff). Currently it's in our bedroom as we are avoiding unwanted house guests and DS likes his floor time, but our room has a lot of cords which he would pull given half a second.
One of THOSE mums!
10-02-2011, 19:22
I have never used mine to contain Ds. Rather to contain all his toys so he can't make a complete mess.
When next bub arrives I have an ottoman that fits in it perfectly and bub will go on it.
Mezmerised
10-02-2011, 19:22
We have one to use outside - she can go anywhere inside with our gates installed/doors shut, so no need inside. Plus we have a very small house!
Sheer Bliss
10-02-2011, 19:27
We got one when our twins were about 2months old. DH couldn't handle the stress anymore, LOL. We couldn't put either of them on the floor for any amount of time without a loving 2yo brother and 4yo sister poking, touching and getting in their personal space! When DH went back to work, even going to the loo for me was near impossible! :laughing:
We got a big timber one, it had room for a swing, rocker, and a blanket on the floor for tummy time. Sometimes they were in it while dinner was prepared, as keeping an eye on a 2yo and 4yo while cooking dinner was enough of a task on it's own, without having to worry about the safety of the babies.
Recently, at a multiple birth gathering, they had 2 plastic ones set up, which was also a great help. They had a pool and paddling pool, so while I got DD1 & DS1 dressed/undressed (DH couldn't make it, so I was going it alone) the bubbas could play easily without escaping!
We have one, we got it when DS started crawling as our house was not safe enough for him to crawl around, he HATED it, now he's walking we have baby gates & the play pen is around the TV.
My Nanna bought us one for Christmas because we are only going to have a 13 month gap between babies.
I didn't think I would use it until baby is born, but I have been using it if I need to leave the room. I feel so much better knowing DD is safer in there than out in the wild!
If nothing else, it gives poor DD a break from being licked to death by our bulldog!
What an awesome thread thank you op you have answered a very big question mark for me - a playpen what a great idea :) :) :)
Why I didn't think of it who knows lol
share a book
10-02-2011, 19:55
Well, I've never had one for my daughter but have recently ordered one for my dog so we can take him with us places more successfully without having to put him on a leash. He's only a really small dog and it's 2 metres in diameter and is hexagonal. Of course he will need to be taken out and played with and walked, but it will be good for those times when we are going out so he's not just hooked onto the tap without being able to go far, or put on his run where he straight away wraps himself around the nearest object. So for this, no, I have never used one as it wasn't necessary for us to have one, but yes I have bought one just not for kiddies!
I bought mine off e-bay and is made up of panels that clip together so you can adjust the shape etc. It came with 13 panels so when put together it was huge which is fabulous as we have a large open plan kitchen/family room area. I bought some cheap camping mats which I lined the tiles (with a rug over). We set jt up when DS was about 3 months old and rolling as we have 2 dogs so it enabled DS to play on the floor away from the dogs. As DS got older and not that keen on being restricted we would take two panels out so he could crawl in and out but was still a defined play area that the dogs were banned from. Was also great when mopping the floor, cooking or whipping out to the line for washing as it was a safe at area. Now the panels are wrapped around my kitchen to keep DS out and we also used a couple to protect the Christmas tree. At all stages of it's use we have has lots of comments on what a great setup it is.
Having the panels has been great as it has enabled us to change how we use them as DS has grown. Also we have 13 panels so when using it as a "playpen" meant that play area was huge meaning DS could roll around, crawl, toddle etc. Not sure if we had a traditional wooden square if we would have used the playpen as much as my DS is very active and I think he would has outgrown it quickly.
Yes mostly used at my mums for her sanity but it was good when my DD2 was a baby as I could put her in for some time away from DD1
~BEXTER~
10-02-2011, 20:12
I use a porta cot as a play pen, takes up less space, can be moved from room to room and taken outside, plus it hold all his little toys..
MIL uses a normal playpen...
If we didn't use them I am sure a TV would have fallen on him by now, (As soon as he in on the ground he is over at the TV playing with the cords)
YES! I have used a playpen with all 3 of my babies. I absolutely love it.
I work from home and the baby could play in it safely while I was working at the computer or making calls. The playpen was in my office with me so I could talk to the baby at the same time.
I also had an old fashioned timber one that I used outside once the baby got to the crawling stage so that if I was doing yard things (or even playing soccer with DS1) I could put bubs somewhere safe. Unfortunately I don't have that one anymore - will have to get another one for DD.
Timestwo
10-02-2011, 22:49
Until recently I had 2 playpens. My twins were crawling on all 4s by 5 months old and walking by 10 months so I had a big Valco 6 sided one set up in the loungeroom that I could put them in so I could go to the toilet, have a shower, quickly hang out some washing etc and know that they will be in the same place and safe when I got back. It was used daily but in short 10min bursts as they have never been happy being contained!!!!
I used a smaller wooden one around the tv and recently around the Christmas tree. Once they learnt how to climb out then I stopped using them
have one but my two ds's screamed like i was murdering them whenever id put them in there, so in the end it was used as a giant toy storer. pretty annoying purchase. this one didnt come apart like u couldnt use it as a giant baby gate or put it around things... so i guess i made a bad choice.
now if i need to have a quick shower i just pop ds in the cot with some toys.
Nope,have never felt the need for one.
And also do not like the idea of putting my baby in a cage.
BlissedOut
10-02-2011, 23:19
Nope,have never felt the need for one.
And also do not like the idea of putting my baby in a cage.
Do you also not like strapping your baby to a chair?
We don't use a playpen, but we do have a baby gate to keep DD from getting into the kitchen, as it is the least baby friendly room in the house. She has free reign over pretty much the rest of the house :)
Do you also not like strapping your baby to a chair?
I have never had the need to strap DD in to her high chair- We have an ikea chair that has no strap.In her carseat, of course I'll strap her in, just as I strap myself in!
BlissedOut
10-02-2011, 23:23
I have never had the need to strap DD in to her high chair- We have an ikea chair that has no strap.In her carseat, of course I'll strap her in, just as I strap myself in!
I was referring to a car seat.
Objecting to the use of a playpen, calling it a 'cage' is pretty judgemental, especially as playpens are a safety device, much like a car seat.
Well,yeah I will strap my kids into a carseat.even tho I know I am the safest driver possible,I cannot trust anyone else on the roads.Not to mention its illegal to not have them in a car seat.
So thats a pretty silly arguement you are raising.
I just never felt the need for a playpen as I have always supervised my kids,and they have no access to anything dangereous,so the house is really free run for them:goodvibes:
BlissedOut
10-02-2011, 23:33
Well,yeah I will strap my kids into a carseat.even tho I know I am the safest driver possible,I cannot trust anyone else on the roads.Not to mention its illegal to not have them in a car seat.
So thats a pretty silly arguement you are raising.
I just never felt the need for a playpen as I have always supervised my kids,and they have no access to anything dangereous,so the house is really free run for them:goodvibes:
But if they weren't in a safe surrounds, you still wouldn't want to put your 'baby in a cage'.
No,I wouldn't.Which is why I never have done it.
Hell,I dont even use a cot!
Do not get offended,if it suits you,then thats cool!!! But for ME,and my kids..I do not want to use one.It is a cage.But I dont think badly of people using one,its just not for me:)
lol...even a thread made by bubhub is getting soiled!!! haha funnies.
i guess cages usually have lids..playpens and cots do not...just rails.
I have an old fashioned square wooden playpen that is used by my 10 month old DD everyday. She is super fast and i just can't leave her for a second without her darting for the tv/power cords etc. I know every toy that is in the playpen and make is super colourful and fun and my DD loves it! Never a cry of protest when i pop her in there. I don't like the idea of 'caging' my child in either but i certainly prefer it to her possibly getting hold of her big brothers lego/transformers/meccano toys that are constantly being played with in our house! :) I can go to the toilet without worrying that she is getting into something that would be dangerous!
I used it with my DS from about 5 months until he was 18 months old (he worked out how to pick it up and crawl out under it!) and DD from about 7 months until present.
noun
1. a boxlike enclosure having wires, bars, or the (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/the) like, for confining and displaying birds or animals (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/animals).
2. anything that confines or imprisons; prison.
What I got when I googled CAGE.Go figure:)
That is all I am gonna say!!:goodvibes:
shockinamillion
11-02-2011, 00:04
Was wondering how many pages it would make before someone started the 'baby in a cage' statements.
The implication that we cage and not supervise kids, is what causes offence. A simple, we have never needed one, would have been as descriptive only not so offensive. It is a lot like the walking kids on leashes like dogs statement.
shockinamillion
11-02-2011, 00:07
noun
1. a boxlike enclosure having wires, bars, or the (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/the) like, for confining and displaying birds or animals (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/animals).
2. anything that confines or imprisons; prison.
I do not recall ever putting the kids in a playpen to display them. It clearly says AND DISPLAY, so I guess that counts playpens out.
BlissedOut
11-02-2011, 00:18
I do not recall ever putting the kids in a playpen to display them. It clearly says AND DISPLAY, so I guess that counts playpens out.
Lol... as for confines and imprisons, I guess I should stop closing the doors in our house as 'I don't like the idea of putting my baby in a cage'.
Jess1889
11-02-2011, 00:25
Yes I have a valco 6 sided one. Not because I don't supervise my child, I supervise him well but he has been very mobile from 11 weeks when he learnt to roll and I need somewhere to put him so I can go to the toilet and do housework and eat etc while knowing he is safe.
BabelFish
11-02-2011, 00:50
Yes, we have an old-fashioned wooden playpen that goes around our DD's craft table. That way she can do her snipping and glueing and drawing etc to her heart's content without her little brother aka Go Go Gadget Arms interfering and destroying things for her. She is at an age where she needs some personal space at times and this works well for her.
4fullstop
11-02-2011, 01:32
Never had one, although sometimes think one might give my baby a safe space from the "love" of his older siblings!!
tinkerbell87
11-02-2011, 02:29
I love ds baby jail, helps me to acheive so much and stops him getting into mischief, the last week I've actually been able to relax and do stuff for the first time since he was born, he's happy with his toys and I'm happy cus I can shower or do the dishes, yeooo best "cage" invention.
And? Boxes and cages have lids! I've never seen a bird cage with no roof over the cage?
No one is displaying anything??
Perhaps that high horse your on needs to go in a cage!
Bubbles10
11-02-2011, 08:31
I have a playpen that the dogs stay in when they are inside. Keeps them away from the bub and everything else!
I have recently set the portacot up again so i can keep my wandering 10 month old safe and happy for short periods if i need to wee or something. There are toys in there for her to play with.
waterlily
11-02-2011, 08:31
I have an extremely over active child that hasn't sat still since 5 months it's just GO GO GO.
I have never had the need for one.
Blairysmum
11-02-2011, 08:43
This is getting a little ugly...
I personally don't like cages I mean play pens!! :p
My house is not baby proof but dd generally doesn't touch or go near anything she is not meant to!
I find that it's important to have the tv open and bits and pieces out so that my child learns not to touch things from a young age!!
Although I do like sheer bliss idea!! Protecting a newborn from a toddler!
myhusbandswife
11-02-2011, 08:53
I have one set up in my loungeroom for when my DS is born so my over affectionate DD cant smother him or share her toys and food with him.
I dont see the issue
I can see why some people use them, if they weren't valuable to some people they wouldn't keep on making them I suppose. Unfortunately, I have seen a number of people misuse them by keeping baby in there for hours and hours with no social interaction, and for me, that has given playpens a bad reputation all round. I am in no way saying that people who use them responsibly are doing anything wrong, and I realise that people misuse a number of items, such as strapping their kids in prams and highchairs for hours on end for no real reason.
tinynosetinytoes
11-02-2011, 09:43
I didn't buy one until DS was 6 months old.
He was an early crawler and we were living at my mums two story house. If it were my house, I would of had a gate on the stairs but since it wasn't we bought a wooden playpen. It wasn't used for long periods of time but I just felt safer going to the toilet or making lunch in the kitchen if he was in there as I often worried about him going down the stairs.
Once we moved out it lived under our bed as there was no need for it but we did use it at Christmas time to block off the Christmas tree (only after DS pulled it over twice).
ETA We still have it but I doubt we will use it for this baby as the house is pretty baby proofed unless it's to protect bubs from DS trying to cuddle/feed her things etc while I'm in the toilet or in the kitchen etc
tinynosetinytoes
11-02-2011, 09:46
Yes, we have an old-fashioned wooden playpen that goes around our DD's craft table. That way she can do her snipping and glueing and drawing etc to her heart's content without her little brother aka Go Go Gadget Arms interfering and destroying things for her. She is at an age where she needs some personal space at times and this works well for her.
Oh I might use that idea too :yes:
I have always used playpens I have 2 at home and one at mils down at the farm altho I used them less often when I only had one child. I have foam playmats zippy tied to the bottoms to stop the kids moving them around and because we have most of the house tiled. I have tried to have bubs out without the pen but she got trodden on by a running 3 yr old 2 times and it is horrifying seeing a 3 yr old step on a baby whilst running.
With 3-5 kids + 2 dogs I dont always have time to see what bubs is up to when running around the house so bubs is safer in the pen and it has toys and a lounge so its more of an activity area.
My question to those who dont; use them and have lots of kids ,how do you keep an eye on bubs all the time and make sure they are not climbing on tables or getting into the loo ( i close the door but the kids always leave it open especially the little ones who cannot close it) or out into the backyard.
I also find all the other kids jump into the pen to play with bubs so bubs is not by herself and still interacts with everyone else.
Our whole lounge is a baby jail :) We have child gates across the entrance, and then the room has been entirely baby-proofed, so she can roam without eating cables (her favourite), wedging herself behind chairs, or hurting herself.
Haven't yet figured out a way of containing her in other parts of the house, as she has a knack of immediately spotting something that's out of bounds and trying to eat it... So the lounge is the only place where she can roam free. A free-range DD is a dangerous one in our house...!
4fullstop
11-02-2011, 12:17
Yes, we have an old-fashioned wooden playpen that goes around our DD's craft table. That way she can do her snipping and glueing and drawing etc to her heart's content without her little brother aka Go Go Gadget Arms interfering and destroying things for her. She is at an age where she needs some personal space at times and this works well for her.
Great idea! My 5yo DD would *love* a space where she could play without her things being destroyed by her 2yo brother!
trishalishous
11-02-2011, 12:29
yes.
we are looking for one to go around my art stuff. DD and i will share the games roomin the new house, and dont want her drinking chemicals or paints!
MagicalLeopluradon
02-03-2011, 07:48
Never had one, didn't feel the need too, when the boys were little we used to have a baby gate but we dont have one anymore we just shut all the doors in the house (minus the bedrooms) and baby proofed everything else.
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